You may not see Brian Herring in a Star Wars film, yet the new movies just wouldn't be the same without him.

The English puppeteer is the man behind the movements of droid BB-8, one of the most beloved characters from 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and due to return in next month's sequel The Last Jedi.

Not only is Herring a critical part of the new films, but he's also a huge fan.

"I've been a Star Wars fan since 1977. So I've been on the other side of the table for nearly 40 years," he said.

New trilogy of Star Wars films announced

"Rian is such a nice guy, he's a great director and he's really good to work with," he said.

"He's got a very big brain, and Rian has a very unique take on The Last Jedi and I think he's definitely the right man to take that forward."

No release dates have been set for the new films.

Other guests at Supanova this weekend include icons of the pop culture world such as Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, and Stan Lee, who helped bring Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man and the X-Men to life.